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July 2018
Sustainable transit advocates have
created a multi-agency commuter team newsletter to share transit developments,
ideas, and concerns. Share this newsletter, sign up to receive this newsletter, or send article ideas to Melissa
Wenzel.
- Transit for Livable Communities/Saint Paul Smart Trips has a new name, a new focus. The statewide transit organization is now Move Minnesota. Their mantra is simple: people first, mode second. Their goals include building a future in Minnesota where all the places we need to go are within easy reach. Move Minnesota leads the movement for an equitable transportation system that puts people first. In a world driven by technology and defined by speed, families are challenged on a daily basis to move freely without the dependence of outdated infrastructure centered around cars. It’s time to make a change. To learn more, visit Move MN's website.
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860 Park and Ride move: Live in the NW Metro? You can take a bus that goes directly to the MPCA/DNR/BWSR/DHS buildings from Coon Rapids, Blaine, and Mounds View. Very few buses do that! The "last" stop used to be at the Mermaid Entertainment Center and has recently moved to the more conveniently-located County Road H Park and Ride. You can learn more on Metro Transit's website.
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Route 54 expansion; riders are loving it already! Go directly to the airport or Mall of America from Maplewood and points on Maryland Ave. and Arcade St. in St. Paul and not have to transfer to another bus or train! The new route extension will cut down on the need for transfers in downtown St. Paul and save time on your way to the airport and back from Maplewood. For more information, visit the Metro Transit webpage.
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Metro Gold Line (east metro) update: Do you live in or near Maplewood, Landfall, Oakdale or Woodbury? You might be interested in the Metro Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit developments. The bus will mostly travel down its own bus-only lane parallel to Interstate 94. This future transit development includes: frequent, all-day service in both directions (suggested 5am-midnight), pre-boarding fare payment for faster stops, access to Park & Rides in St. Paul, Oakdale and Woodbury, real-time arrival and departure information, and heated shelters, lighting, and security features. There are corridor-wide open houses scheduled for July 17 and July 18, 2018, one in Saint Paul and one in Oakdale. This transit line will be the first of its kind in Minnesota and will help serve a critical portion of the Twin Cities. Stay up-to-date with developments through the Metro Transit Gold Line web page.
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Twin Cities Biking: Check out this website that is ALL about biking in the Twin Cities. Getting started: using bikes for transportation or recreation is fun and easy and does not require specialized gear or clothing. Whether riding to work, school, running errands or just having fun, the same starting points apply. Check out these topics: riding, choosing a bike, navigation, maintenance & gear, locking, and more. For more information, visit Twin Cities Biking's website.
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80 people bike/want to bike to work in Lafayette Park! To meet recent needs, Two MPCA staff have brought in a spare bike lock for anyone in Lafayette Park to use! Please contact Owen Seltz, (MPCA, 5th floor north-central) or Melissa Wenzel (MPCA, 5th floor, SE corner).
New! Need a bike pump? Another cyclist brought in a hand pump to fill your bike tires with air. It's at the desk of Melissa Wenzel (MPCA, 5th floor, SE corner).
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Jenna: I have been taking the bus to work for four years now since I graduated college (2.5 years at the MPCA). In that time, I have only had a bus not show up twice, and I was notified via text about maintenance issues. During the horrendous snow storm in the winter of 2018 where everyone was trapped in downtown St. Paul, my bus still managed to show up at my stop and get me home safely without me having to worry about being trapped. I got a membership to Lifetime Fitness because there is a stop on my route and it’s just too convenient to walk across the parking lot after work. I have grown so accustomed to the bus that I was even cranky a couple of weeks ago when I was running late and had to drive in – I wasn’t able to watch my morning Netflix with the bus Wi-Fi and I was really looking forward to it!
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Dan: After 16 years of driving in Atlanta’s brutal traffic and congestion, I decided when moving back home to Minnesota and working at the MPCA to try something different. Living in the Rosemount/Apple Valley area, I learned of express buses via MVTA were available to downtown St. Paul. Thus the beginning of the short drive to the park and ride lots in the southern metro. Once downtown, I could either walk to the office when it was nice outside or catch the 53 or the 64 from downtown to the Lafayette/Grove intersection. However, I quickly learned my MetroPass could let me use a multitude of buses and light rail lines to get around St. Paul and Minneapolis. Twins, Vikings, MNUFC Loons, Gophers, and Saints games were easy to get to as well many other events (i.e. State Fair, etc.) via the Red, Blue, Green, and A Lines, or occasionally a regular bus line, if necessary. No more “whiteknuckling” on the freeways on a snowy day and sitting in construction as the trains zip through that and the buses can maneuver into shoulder lanes when needed. That already makes the start of a workday less stressful before even arriving at your desk. My brand new car, a Hyundai Elantra, bought in Aug 2012 with 9 miles on it had 18,000 miles driven when I left Atlanta in Nov 2013. Nearly five years later it is still under 50,000 miles rather than close to 100,000 that would have been expected in this time. Maintenance, gas usage, etc. costs are dramatically lower. My car’s life has been greatly extended as a result. On a rare occasion I will drive to work if having to go somewhere that isn’t accessible by public transportation. I rarely use my allotted 4x month of "parking for free in the blue lot", but it is nice to have that option, if need be.
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Laura: I’ve been at MPCA for a little over two months and live 18 miles away from work (Golden Valley). When I arrived, I checked into all possible commuting methods since I live in the west metro. By asking around, I was able to find someone to carpool with occasionally and talk through potential bike routes. Everyone has been helpful, and I like that I have some options for my commute.
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